If you’re anywhere near Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, be sure to check out the Say Word Hip-Hop Theatre Festival, September 18-30. The school’s bringing in an impressive list of performers, including Maya Azucena, Hop-Fu, Uri Lane, Pocho Joe, MC Lyte, oliive Dance Theatre, and Bamuthi.

Click the pic for more.

The Hip Hop Theater Festival has a new website with listings of all their events, plus ticket info and more. It’s a big one, check it out!

If you’ve been paying attention to NYC, then you probably know that Daniel Beaty’s show, Emergence-See!, is now running at The Public.

If you go here, you can watch some video of Mr. Beaty doing a poem on Def Jam. There’s also an intro from Ruby Dee on that video and the whole damn thing is really pretty impressive. Seriously, watch it.

Got a notice from Pocho Joe about “Two Worlds Collide,” an evening of what can be considered the next generation of poetry and music.”

Drawing from a wealth of backgrounds, the artists performing at Highways Performance Space, November 16 – 18, are some of the best at their craft. Emmy award-winning producer and two-time HBO Def Poet, Joe Hernandez-Kolski, was approached by Leo Garcia, Artistic Director of Highways Performance Space, to put together an evening of work. So Joe got excited and surrounded himself with some of the most talented performers from the west coast. “These are the artists who inspire me,” says Joe. 2006 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion Mike McGee arrives from San Jose; In-Q, a numerous slam champion and one of the most prolific Hip-Hop MCs, arrives from Santa Monica; Dez Hope, the “Mexican Bob Dylan with beats” brings his guitar and looping machine from Boyle Heights; DJ Jedi carries his turntables and mixer and vast music catalog from Culver City; and Joe Hernandez-Kolski makes his way from Chicago (via Mar Vista, baby!) to bring you an evening of poetry and music guaranteed to provoke laughter and thought.

Highways Performance Space
November 16 – 18 at 8:30pm
A limited number of $10 tix available at goldstarevents dot com.
Purchase tickets online at www.highwaysperformance.org or call (310) 315-1459.

Total Chaos, Jeff Chang’s new book, is almost upon us. A email from Jeff Chang’s emailist has the following.

Total Chaos is the companion volume to Can’t Stop Won’t Stop. It’s an anthology of hip-hop artists talking in their own words about the art and aesthetics of hip-hop.

You can find out all about the new book on the newly launched website, courtesy of 226-Design and www.kuwayama.com. Click through now!

www.totalchaoshiphop.com

Can’t wait, won’t wait? You can pre-order the book here.

If you’re a professor or a teacher who would like to receive a desk copy of the book to consider using it in your classes this semester, contact the Perseus Book Group staff at: examcopies2006@perseusbooks.com

or fax a request on your institution’s letterhead to the Perseus Book Group customer service at: 800-351-5073

Stay tuned for more announcements on the book and the groundbreaking Total Chaos Hip-Hop Forum series shortly…

Click here for information on PBS’s upcoming IndependentLens documentary HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes.

HIP-HOP: Beyond Beats and Rhymes takes an in-depth look at representations of manhood, sexism and homophobia in hip-hop culture. This groundbreaking documentary is a “loving critique” of certain disturbing developments in rap music culture from the point of view of a fan who challenges the art form’s representations of masculinity.

The films airs February 20, on PBS. The website contains great information on the film, a trailer, some history of hip-hop, and notes on related issues.

Reports from around the Hip-Hop | Theatre universe.

Danny Hoch

In 2007, Danny continues writing his large-scale Hip-Hop Musical A Word Is Born as well as his new long-anticipated solo work (currently untitled), which he will begin to workshop this year.

In May 2007, Representa, directed by Danny Hoch will premiere as part of the San Francisco International Arts Festival and Bay Area Hip-Hop Theater Festival. Representa is a bilingual Hip-Hop spoken-word & theater piece written and performed by Bay Area Spoken Word Artist Paul Flores and New York based Cuban MC Julio Cárdenas.

Mr. Hoch is finishing his 3rd book which will consist of his last full-length play Till The Break Of Dawn accompanied by a collection of his unpublished Hip-Hop writings.

Carl Hancock Rux

No Black Male Show
February 9, 2007, 08:00 PM - 09:30 PM
Broadway Performance Hall, Seattle, WA.
Dealing with pop culture and black male identity, the performance narrative features songs, music, and dance exploring the icon of the black male in today’s pop culture and American myths. This will be the Seattle Debut of the artist and his important work, which has toured all of the country.
info: 206-323-4032
www.cdforum.org

Dahlak
Dahlak releases his new album of hip-hop/spoken word Dual Consciousness on February 20. He’ll also be on an all-new Def Poetry Jam on Feb. 23rd.

George Watsky
George recently premiered a one-person show, So Many Levels, and will also be featured on that Feb. 23rd Def Poetry Jam.

Across the pond in Boogie-down London, Jonzi D is making an awful lot of noise with his new company Jonzi D Productions.

He’s got a new show, TAG…Me vs. The City, about to go on tour. The next Surgery is coming up in March, and after that will be a series of Hip Hop Theatre Workshops.

Even if you’re stuck in the states, it’s worth a peek to see how Jonzi is pushing things forward. Jonzi is still boycotting this U.S., after all, so the web is the only way we’re going to see him for a while.